Armies of Liberation

Thats it. Russia is tied into Saleh because of all the billions owed for the MIGs and other hardware.

HOOD Condemns arms dealing and Calls to “Stand together to stop war”

HOOD followed with great concern the developing military tension in Yemen, which form catastrophic internal war threatens the most significant human rights, right to life and safety first and other basic rights that require a reasonable presence of the State services. (Read on …)

Russia, Yemen’s largest bilateral creditor due to enormous weapons purchases especially the big ticket MIGs, has a vested economic state in the survival of the Saleh regime. Check my category Russia for earlier.

Mareb press

Tribesmen of the revolution – west of the capital Sanaa – were able to prevent the movement of a large force made ​​up of columns of tanks, vehicles and armored trains loaded with weapons and ammunition, which was on its way to the capital Sana’a. The sources said that the convoy is from an arms deals with Russia, which arrived at the port of Hodeidah recently and includes 40 tanks and many other equipment. (Read on …)

Video: Yemeni children in Arhab run for the caves as the bombing starts

Yemen owes Russia hundreds of millions for the same MIGs the regime is using to murder its own citizens. Russia is Yemen’s single largest bi-lateral creditor due to huge weapons purchases; the state is thought to have at least 18 MIGs in inventory. Russia along with China opposes regime change in Yemen and thwarted strong statements in the UN Security Council. Russia is also playing the al Qaeda card, saying the protests are hampering the regime from battling the fanatics.

The Russian article is titled Yemen fights with Al Qaeda: In the early hours of Tuesday, Yemeni forces had a fight with Al Qaeda militants in the region of Arhab in the country’s northeast. Over 20 militants were killed…Yemen’s authorities would have probably fought with Al Qaeda in their country more successfully, if not for the unstable political situation.

CNN: Fighting has been virtually nonstop for the past two months in the Arhab district, 40 kilometers (about 25 miles) northeast of Sanaa, after tribal leaders went against the government claiming that it killed four tribal members in an effort to create unrest in the district.

In the most recent bloodshed on Tuesday, witnesses said civilians comprised most of the dead from air attacks by the Republican Guard. At least 17 of the dead were children and women, they said, while only nine tribal fighters were among the killed.

At least a dozen fighters were injured, witnesses said. At least 45 tanks and armored vehicles were seen entering Arhab villages during early morning Tuesday, tribal leaders in the area said.

There’s a vid on FB that I am trying to get on Youtube of little children running from the bombing to nearby caves. Obviously some didn’t make it.

Yemen owes Russia 1.2 billion (USD) for the MIG’s and other military hardware. GCC SecGen may return for a second try after the last fiasco; second trip already delayed once.

Yemen Post: The opposition bloc, the Joint Meeting Parties, meets later today a Russian delegation in Yemen’s capital Sana’a as the political crisis deepens, an official said. (Read on …)

I know why, Saleh owes Russia $1.3 billion for the MIG’s and other military hardware. Russia is Yemen’s largest bi-lateral creditor and the debt is nearly all from the weapons deals.

Update: Yemen Times headline says it all: GCC talks with government delegation flop, UN Security Council fails to issue resolution

BBC: UN Security Council members have called for restraint and dialogue between protesters and authorities in Yemen.

But the Council’s first talks on the crisis ended in New York without an agreed public statement, with diplomats saying Russia objected.

Security forces earlier reportedly opened fire on anti-government protesters in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, and the southern city of Taiz. (Read on …)

Update: Saleh refuses GCC initiative to mediate a peaceful exit, says its unconstitutional, this coming from a war criminal who hasn’t obeyed a law in…ever.

The GCC Saudi Initiative

1) President Saleh to announce to step down and transfer his powers to his deputy.

2) emphasis on ensuring safety and the lack of any prosecution of him and all his relatives and the Elements of the system.

3) to form a government of national unity to have the mission operation and running of the country for a limited period and to prepare for a referendum on the constitution and parliamentary and presidential elections and may also form committees as it deems necessary.

4) If this initiative to be approved by all parties then all are invited to Riyadh to sign it and begin its implementation immediately.

In the same context, the GCC sources said that the GCC mediation recognizes and understands the importance of the need to contain the aspirations of the initiative of all parties of Yemen, led by young people, which Saleh leave/Departure is their main demands.
(Read on …)

Isria

Yemen – Saleh: My visit to Russia to discuss military deals’ debts

President Ali Abdullah said he discussed with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin Yemen’s debt of military purchases which exceeded USD 2 billion. (Read on …)

Thats why Yemen’s single largest foreign creditor by far is Russia. IPSN

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), one of the world’s best known think tanks researching arms control and disarmament, Russia accounted for nearly 59 percent of all major weapons deliveries to Yemen during 2004-2008, followed by Ukraine at 25 percent, Italy at 10 percent, Australia’s five percent, and the United States at less than one percent. (Read on …)